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OTTAWA — Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver says he still believes the contentious Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline can be built, but recognizes the federal government has a substantial sales job ahead of it in 2013.

The proposed $6-billion Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline would transport oilsands crude from northern Alberta to the port of Kitimat, B.C., where the product would be loaded onto tankers and shipped to Asian markets.

“I am still of the belief that we can get this done, on the assumption, of course, that it passes regulatory muster,” Oliver said in an interview with Postmedia News. “If the conclusion is this project can be safe for Canadians, safe for the environment … that, I hope, will go a long way in respect at least to people who are kind of open-minded to the facts.”

The project is seen as an important component of the federal Conservative government’s plans to expand Canada’s energy export markets beyond the United States via new pipeline capacity to the West Coast. The federal government hasn’t officially endorsed the pipeline project, however, while it’s undergoing an environmental review.

But the 1,172-kilometre pipeline is facing significant opposition from First Nations, environmental groups and even the B.C. government, which says five economic and environmental conditions must be met before it will support the project.

Moreover, the provincial NDP — which is leading in public opinion polls and is expected to win B.C.’s provincial election in May — opposes the pipeline and is vowing to fight it should it receive regulatory approval.

However, Oliver maintains the pipeline can still be built, if it receives a positive environmental review and the federal government can convince British Columbians and the provincial government of its safety and economic value.

“In a democracy, governments are responsive to the will of the people. I think any government would take into account if there was a change of attitude,” Oliver said.

“It could be the facts, the science would lead the government, if it were an NDP government, to revisit it. Presumably, they’ve got to be opposed to it for a reason. If the reason is related to environmental concerns, and those concerns are allayed, then they shouldn’t be opposed.”

The federal government has set a Dec. 31, 2013 deadline for the National Energy Board joint review panel examining the Northern Gateway pipeline to submit its environmental assessment and report on the project.

The panel is assessing the environmental effects of the proposed project and reviewing the application under both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the National Energy Board Act.

In the meantime, Ottawa must continue consultation with aboriginal groups and ensure pipeline and tanker safety is the best it possibly can be, the minister added.

“We have a big job to do,” he said.

Indeed, the B.C. government says the project will not proceed unless the federal and Alberta governments, along with pipeline company Enbridge, help meet its five economic and environmental demands.

The conditions include “world-leading” marine and land oil spill response, meeting aboriginal treaty rights, providing First Nations with economic opportunities, and ensuring B.C. receives its “fair share” of the economic benefits.

British Columbia Environment Minister Terry Lake said far more is needed for the project to proceed than simply a favourable environmental review by the federal panel.

While Alberta has ruled out sharing royalties or tax revenue, Lake said the B.C. government is open to discussing options such as the federal government providing infrastructure dollars to British Columbia as a way to ensure the province receives appropriate economic benefits.

“We need to have our share of benefits commensurate with the amount of risk, and the risk needs to be minimized, because if we can’t reduce the risks, then it doesn’t really matter what the benefits are,” Lake said in an interview with Postmedia News.

“British Columbians won’t tolerate something that has risks that they perceive to be too high.”

The federal government appears to be working on new maritime environmental regulations to address some of the province’s concerns, he said, but the lack of consultation is a “concern” to the B.C. government. “Can it be built? … If the company and if Canada were to step up and be able to satisfy British Columbians that those five conditions are being met, then it certainly can be a possibility,” Lake said.

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Federal minister still believes Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline can be built